Columns

I can hear the shower going upstairs as I sit at my writing desk in my downstairs office. It is funny how the sound of running water always makes me feel a little melancholic and contemplative. At the moment, I am dwelling on a question someone posed to me after…

2020 is almost at an end. In a few weeks, we will celebrate the holiday season, and before we know it, 2021 will be upon us. The past year was mostly filled with bad news and unexpected events, and the turmoil caused by COVID-19 has impacted many people around the…

“Surprise!” I watched familiar faces filter into the room where I stood stunned, not expecting the birthday event that was unfolding before me. I turn 50 tomorrow, and some close friends went to the trouble of organizing a celebration for me. I was thankful for the moment, and I felt…

I feel the coolness of the glass against my forehead. The shower is pelting warmth against my skin, but the water doesn’t feel very soothing today. I am tense as I block out thoughts of banging my head against the glass shower door. I know this sounds absurd, but today…

“I love you. If anything happens to me, you know where I keep the account details.” My husband uttered these parting words as I dropped him off for admittance into the hospital in April. His severe fluid retention had caused his feet and abdomen to balloon up while his…

My husband lives under the banner of his disease. This may sound hard-hitting, but it is the fact of the matter. The sooner carers appreciate that hereditary amyloidosis may transform their loved one into someone else, the better they will adapt to their altered relationship with each other. I say…

My laptop reads 3:37 a.m. I made the mistake of checking my work inbox when I should be asleep. There are times I become overzealous in my correspondence. I want to provide a solution for the people who contact me right then and there. Leading a patient association has its…

I turn 50 this November, and one of the key things I have learned is that we as human beings totally underrate our ability to overcome tough situations. I have yet to figure out why we keep falling for the belief that life is all about success. (Check back when…

Part of the work needed to ensure the overall well-being of neuropathy patients is to help them manage their moods and let them know that they are supported. Increased serotonin may help patients with peripheral neuropathy symptoms associated with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or diabetic…

May 2020 has arrived, introducing warmer temperatures and beautiful days — the spring season, a great time to be outside. When it’s not raining, warmer temperatures and sunlight may increase serotonin and boost mental health. However, many neuropathy patients suffer severe consequences from the rising heat.